But this latest charge came when the players were locked out and no CBA was in place. I think the Packers should send an olive branch out - have a few of the defensive leaders of the team make a public statement that they are in support of the guy and maybe that could help turn him around. Hey, it's Easter, let's practice some of that forgiveness Jesus always stressed.

Or else turn the clock back to the sixties and let Vince rehabilitate young Jolly.

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If it was just a case of him being an addict, I could maybe justify giving him another chance. What made it a lot worse in my eyes were the circumstances. He was driving without a license with the drugs in his vehicle. It seems more to me like the guy just has no respect for the law. I don't see him coming back to the team, ever.

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If he was locked out by the NFL with all the other players, can they suspend him when he isn't technically part of the NFL?

I know there is at least one player Boxing because he couldn't do that when he was under contract, but now he can.

Jolly's suspension was a result of escalating penalties for prior infractions. It was not just for getting busted with codeine. It was only part of the reason why he was suspended.

The law is supposed to punish people befitting their crimes. Not the NFL. The NFL only punishes them for breaching their contractual obligation to stay out of trouble. The length of suspension has nothing to do with the severity of the crime.

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I doubt the commish will let him play any time soon. It is just as well. He needs to focus on getting his life together and not football.

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Given that the league has sent out notices warning players that they will still be held subject to the league's personal conduct policy  despite the lockout (with punishments obviously being meted out after the new CBA is instated), I am not sure where you people are getting the idea that the league will not hold Jolly accountable for this latest action.

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As NSD said, I have seen many a remarkable tale of redemption. That being said, I sincerely hope that if the Packers do retain his services, that he is on his absolute last thread.

He'd be the dumbest NFL player in recent history to not realise he has the chance of contributiing to something special. Something that works well without him. A superbowl victory is testatement to that.

I don't know, I just feel that someone with the baggage he carries should feel the absolute need to force himself into indispensible status on an already winning team. I wouldn't put it beyond him either, he can be a hell of a player.

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So basically, the law does not apply to Johnny Jolly.

While he did get a good deal, this kind of judgment is not uncommon, especially for a guy with a lot of money and a good attorney. There are many programs that allow for extended periods of probation and, upon completion, expungement from their record. I've done it myself. It's especially common with drug / simple assault charges.

Five years is an incredibly long time to be on probation and if he takes care of himself for that long, it's a reasonable assumption to say he has "changed his ways." I would be surprised if he will do so though, and the hammer falls hard when the agreement is broken.

Yep. I know of a guy or two that I went to high school with who got caught with pounds of weed and got off without any real jail time. Shit, there are people who kill somebody who get probation. Just google "manslaughter" and "probation". Jolly is getting a similar sentence to some killers for being a dumbshit who drinks cough syrup.

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Keep in mind they count the weight of the container as included in the alleged amount of the drug. So it could be three drops of codeine and 6oz of plastic, but he gets charged with the full amount. We just don't know.

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